Glens Falls police officer charged with aggravated battery

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – A Glens Falls Police officer and soldier with the U.S. Army has been arrested in Georgia for allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend, a fellow
service member.

According to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, 35-year-old Richard Llewellyn was arrested for aggravated battery on Thursday night at the home he shared with his ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Ashley Slack, also a soldier in the U.S. Army, for just over one month.

According to police, Slack broke up with Llewellyn and was attempting to leave the residence in her vehicle when he allegedly reached in and struck the side of her face with his fist, yelled “it's over when I say it's over” and grabbed her around the throat with his hands. Police say Llewellyn squeezed until she couldn't breathe and bit her nose, saying “I've got nothing.”

Slack told police she tried to stab him with her car keys in self-defense and was able to kick the car horn which got the attention of their two roommates, who were able to get Llewellyn off her.

Both roommates told police they heard the couple arguing and observed the physical altercation occurring inside Slack's car, additionally saying they saw Slack sitting in the driver seat with a blanket over her face.

One roommate told police they had spoken with Llewellyn's brother, who said he was despondent and suicidal; they say he possessed several firearms due to his role as a police officer in Glens Falls.

Responding officers observed Slack's facial injuries and say she received treatment at a local hospital on her own.

Llewellyn left the scene in his vehicle and was stopped a short time later. He told police that he was on his way to the police station to retrieve his property from his ex-girlfriend because she had refused to give it to him. He eventually admitted to police that he was involved in an argument with his ex-girlfriend.

Llewellyn, currently living in Georgia on military duty, has been charged with Aggravated Battery, a felony, and remanded to jail.

Glens Falls Police Chief William Valenza says the department has taken no
disciplinary action as of right now against Llewllyn, pending further
investigation by Georgia authorities.